SD Missouri River Fishing Report

September 10, 2007|Great Lakes of SD Tourism Association

Pierre Â? PHEASANT HUNTING & WALLEYE FISHING Â? ItÂ?s the best! The report from Game Fish & Parks is that the pheasant population is at an all time high with the season beginning at noon on Oct. 20. Make your plans to head to Central South Dakota! For information on where to hunt or who to hunt with Â? or maybe to fish in the morning and hunt pheasants in the afternoon - call the Great Lakes of SD Tourism Association at 1-888-386-4617.

The SD Hunting Atlas is a free booklet containing a series of detailed maps showing private land in South Dakota that has been leased for public hunting by Game, Fish & Parks as Walk-In Areas. Maps are available at GF&P offices, email at wildinfo@state.sd.us or by calling 605-773-3485.

Lake Oahe Fishing in the Pollock area has slowed with the hot weather, but anglers say fishing remains good. Crawlers are the bait of choice and boat access is good.

The bite at Mobridge remains slow with Walth Bay listed as a hot spot. Fishing has been better than the first of August and crawlers remain the bait of choice.

At Akaska there is a fairly decent bite on walleye, with some anglers coming in with limits and others with less Â? but the report is the fish are looking good. They are being caught in the 20-30 ft. depth and are in the 14 to 15 inch size.

Anglers are doing well in the South Whitlock area. Lots of smallmouth bass are being caught with a 4 Â½ lb. brought in over this last weekend. In addition, anglers are catching northern and Chinook salmon. Limits of walleye are also being seen.

Fishing around BobÂ?s Resort at Gettysburg is picking up with some walleye limits coming in. Most fish are in the 17-25 inch size and are being caught mainly on crawlers in 17-30 ft. of water, with some smaller fish being caught. Chinook salmon are also being caught in this area.

Lake Oahe (Lower end) Fishing is still doing well on the lower end of Lake Oahe. The interesting part is that everyone seems to be fishing at a different depth and location and with different bait. Limits of walleye are coming in and the fish are looking good. Anglers are catching bunches of smallmouth bass in this area also, in addition to Chinook salmon.

Lake Sharpe Fishing has been good to excellent on Lake Sharpe. The fish have been biting from Lower Brule to West Bend. Depth of water depends on the structure you are fishing, with the fish being found in about 15-30 feet of water. Crawlers are the best bait and guides are catching 35-80 plus fish per day. The size runs from 13 Â½ to 20 inches with an occasional fish over 20 inches.

Lake Francis Case Fishing has slowed in the Cow Creek area, but they are catching good numbers of walleye and white bass below the Big Bend Dam.

Fishing has also been slower in the Platte area. Many anglers are jigging for walleye under the Platte/Winner Bridge. Most fish are being caught in 25-35 feet of water using bottom bouncers with some anglers pulling plugs. All sizes of walleye are being caught.

The walleye in the Pickstown area are biting from North Point to Whetstone using spinner and crawler/minnow in the 15-35+ feet range on 2 to 3 oz. bottom bouncers. Fishing is slow to fair and water temperature is around 78 degrees. Catfish, drum, white bass and walleye are being caught below the dam in the boat basin and fast water from boats, and off shore with a jig and minnow and crappie rigs. Water releases have been good from approximately 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.

For more information on fishing Lake Oahe, please call Akaska Bait Shop at 605-649-7847 in Akaska and Bridge City Bait, 605-845-3132 in Mobridge. Call BobÂ?s Resort at 605-765-2500 or South Whitlock Resort at 605-765-9762 in Gettysburg. On the lower end of Lake Oahe, call Outpost Lodge at 605-264-5450. On Lake Francis Case, contact the Platte Chamber of Commerce at 888-297-8175, and Fort Randall Bait and Tackle at 605-487-7760 in Pickstown.

ItÂ?s time to make that trip to the Missouri River lakes in South Dakota! To obtain up-to-date information on the Great Lakes region or Lake Oahe boat ramp conditions, visit our website at: www.sdgreatlakes.org.